In 2004, after two years of negotiations, the Organization’s Council unanimously adopted the Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security (Right to Food Guidelines). The Council recommended Members to implement the Guidelines and asked the FAO Secretariat to support them in these efforts.

The Right to Food Unit was created in 2006 with the mandate to assist Members in the implementation of the Right to Food Guidelines. Activities comprise the development of methodologies and guidelines, research, information and awareness building, capacity development, technical assistance and policy advice. Important progress has been achieved in a number of countries and initial experience acquired at the national level regarding right to food legislation, monitoring, assessment and budgeting, as well as curriculum development and capacity strengthening.

 This Forum takes place at a crucial moment when FAO Members and stakeholders are examining critical issues related to the future challenges for food security, such as climate change and bioenergy.

The “Right to Food Forum” will contribute to the discussions at other conferences and High-Level Meetings organized by FAO in 2008.

The conclusions and the report from the panels will reflect the status of implementation of the right to food, the experiences made to date in different countries, the lessons learned, and the recommendations that emerge from the discussions at the Forum. Together with relevant technical papers and the contributions made, they will be published in a book. It is expected that this book will support the further implementation of the Right to Food Guidelines and thus contribute to the realization of the right to adequate food for all.